Two key aspects drove this research — high mortality rates and increasing multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. The idea was to conduct a study to assess the cost of a trial in this complex setting compared to other trials in endocrinology and oncology in hopes of informing investment in the much-needed antibacterial drugs.

The study team found that the cost per patient was $89,600, and the cost of screen failures and screen failure rates were the main cost drivers. Their results indicated that biopharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies should consider strategies to improve screening and recruitment to decrease HABP/VABP clinical trial costs. Holland was a co-author on this critically important study. Click here to read the full article.

Does rifampicin play a role in staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia?

Holland was a co-author of an editorial with Vance Fowler, MD, from the Duke Division of Infectious Diseases, both members of the DCRI. The editorial was published in the February 17-23 issue of The Lancet, and aptly titled "Rifampicin for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: give it ARREST". Their comments applauded the ARREST trial results, ones that addressed the unresolved question involving the role of adjunctive rifampicin in treatment regimens for patients with S aureus bacteremia. The results? The trial gave a definitive result: clinicians should not use rifampicin for S aureus bacteremia treatment in the absence of indwelling prosthetic material. Click here to read the full article.